I liked them a lot. While they were into high priced wine they and their staff were also into inexpensive wines that were not great wines but fantastic at their price point. They turned me onto Ramon Bilbao (a rioja) that I could get for about $8 a bottle at Wards. They didn't carry it. It was not a killer wine but it was a one aspect excellent everyday wine worth at least twice the price. I turned them onto Acrobat Pinot Gris at least a year before the NYT ran an article about how great that wine was at its price point. So much for that secret. Bunky and Wade knew that Acrobat was the lesser label from King Estate in Oregon so were not surprised that it was serviceable. I used to get this wine for $8 a bottle at Dorn's.
Not as classy as wine, but the Whataburger( it’s where el Indio is on 13 st) was a great night cap Double double fries and coke , helped for the one eyed squint drive home
Reminds me of either the WSJ or NYT couple (can’t remember for sure) that wrote wine reviews weekly. They had a blind tasting of Shiraz and the Lindeman’s Bin 50 won. That was about 20 years ago. It was and still is well under $10. It beat out much higher priced ones. I still drink it today but it is harder to find now.
I came to Gainesville in 99 after my time in the Corps. Girlfriend, now wife was in grad school. Our frequent stops La Feista Cafe Gardens Leo 706 Calypso? Roly Poly Mia Sushi We lived just behind David’s Real Pit BBQ and would go there frequently and a seafood joint (can’t remember the name-North something) before we built a house in Sorrento. Gumby’s pizza on the cheap. Indian place closer to where the newer (at the time) La Fiesta built their second location (39th Street). Once we had kids we started eating more at home and I usually brought lunch or ate at Shands (Greek place, chic-Fil-a and Einstein Bros) occasionally we’d walk up to the Union or Chipotle. She would hit up a Caribbean place near the NW insurance
Northwest Grill is the seafood place next to Davids, both are still there. The copper monkey that was there is obviously gone, but it has been replaced with a pub called Mother’s and it’s as ok as copper monkey ever was.
Just ordered Pizza for my boys (over $90) and I’m reminded of how cheap Gumby’s and Five Star Pizza was.
I don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but still depressed over the closing of Burrito Brothers. LOL
The only one left on your frequent list is La Fiesta and it closed briefly within the last year. David's and NW Grill are still going strong, although David's got new ownership somewhat recently. I really miss Cafe Gardens, but its been gone for many moons.
Holy-moly...tell me where you live so I make sure I never move there. You can still get a 2 Large 2 topping deal Pizzas at Hungries here in G'ville for about $20.
Thank you for the reminders of pokey sticks and the "Five Star Flip" where we would turn the pizza upside down in the box so the cardboard lid would soak up some of the pools of extra grease.
Cafe Gardens was great. Was a good place to chill. Not a be in a hurry place at all. When they had music on the patio, it was mostly a jazz guitarist (Taylor Roberts played there frequently in 2000s.) or a guitar/singer. I got to play a handful of jazz gigs there in a trio or quartet. Is David's - David's BBQ? Either way, I'm glad to hear about places keepin on.
Yea, he’s talking about David’s bbq. They actually have a second location on NE 23rd now too, but we’re talking about the original on 39th.
